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Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has declared the Bay House Mine accident in Chegutu a state of disaster and the State will assist families to bury the deceased.
This means the Government will cover burial expenses, including the provision of coffins, food, funds and other materials needed to manage the processes.
Speaking last night after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere said Cabinet received updates on the Bay House Mine Disaster in Mashonaland West as well the plane crash in Mashava, Masvingo, which occurred on 29 September.
In the mine disaster, a total of 39 miners were trapped in a kilometre-long tunnel.
Thirteen of them escaped when the mine started collapsing and nine were rescued. Four bodies were retrieved while six are still trapped under a large boulder, with seven more miners missing “The district’s civil protection committee was activated and promptly reacted by assessing the situation and coordinating the response efforts, including engaging surrounding mining companies to assist in the rescue operations and establishing a command centre at the mine,” said Dr Muswere.
“The mine owner is providing food for the rescue team as well as assisting with burial arrangements.”
Dr Muswere said efforts to retrieve the remaining bodies and account for the missing persons were ongoing.
On the Mashava plane crash, Dr Muswere said the RioZim plane had six male persons on board and was travelling from Harare to Murowa Diamonds. The National Civil Protection Fund was being used to assist the bereaved families.
Government, through the Civil Protection Unit, was also meeting the costs for the forensic examination and DNA testing of the remains of the deceased persons; providing funeral assistance and psychosocial support to the bereaved families.
Online Reporter